How does one pronounce Cotehele?

This is something many of the people I meet struggle with, and rightly so. Cotehele is a very odd word. So how does one pronounce it, what does it mean, and where does it come from?

Cotehele is a name combining two words, cote and hele, both old English or Anglo Saxon English, which date back about 1500 years or so. The English language has changed a lot over the years. After the Norman invasion of England in 1066, many French words were introduced into the language. When that happened, many of the older Saxon words dropped out of everyday language and only remained in use as place names and in isolated parts of England, Scotland and Wales.

A cote (pronounced like coat) is a pen or small dwelling for animals or birds. Sheep were kept in cotes, as were doves or pigeons. Often the pronunciation is shortened to cot, as in dovecote (pronounced dove-cot). The word hele (pronounced like heal) means to hide or obscure, so literally it means ‘hidden shelter for animals or birds’. Put the two words together and you have Cotehele, pronounced “co-teel.”

An Internet search for the word Cotehele returns a link to a Tudor manor house in the southwest of England, built in 1485. Cotehele has a fully protected courtyard, formal gardens, a stone dovecote, and an 18th century folly tower with fine views. It is owned by the National Trust and open to the public. If you ever get the chance to visit, be sure have one of their marvelous cream teas!